Sinusitis Symptoms

Sinusitis is a common disease, and the symptoms of sinusitis often resemble the symptoms of a cold. So what are the different symptoms of sinusitis?

What Is Sinusitis?

Sinusitis is inflammation or swelling of the tissues lining the sinuses, which are small air pockets located between the eyes, behind the forehead, and the nose and cheekbones. Normally, these sinuses make a thin mucus that drains out of the nasal channels, which helps keep the nose clean and free of bacteria.

The sinuses are usually empty air cavities. These spaces may become blocked and fill with fluid, and when this happens, bacteria grow and cause infection (bacterial sinusitis).

Causes and Risk Factors

Acute sinusitis is often caused by a cold, which is a viral or bacterial infection. The risk of developing sinusitis may increase if you have:

• Allergic conditions that affect the sinuses such as hay fever.
• Frequent colds.
• An abnormality in the nasal passage, such as a deviated nasal septum or nasal polyps.
• An immune system disorder such as in HIV/AIDS.
• Smoking, whether habitual or passive smoking.

Sinusitis Symptoms

In general, the symptoms of sinusitis are as follows:

• Pain or pressure in the face.
• Thick nasal discharge.
• Nasal congestion.

As for cases of acute bacterial sinus infection, the previous symptoms last for at least 10 days without improving, and may even worsen within 10 days after an improvement appears, and in this case, it is important to talk with the specialist doctor to get the diagnosis and the appropriate treatment plan.

In detail, the symptoms of sinusitis are as follows:

Pain or Pressure in the Sinuses

Facial pain is a common symptom of sinusitis. As we mentioned that there are sinuses in different places in the head, any of these air-filled cavities can become injured and cause severe pain when it is infected.

Inflammation and swelling can cause sinus pain and a feeling of pressure, because the inflammation may change the usual path of mucus from the nose to the back of the throat.

You may feel pain in:

• The forehead
• On the sides of the nose
• In the upper jaw and teeth.
• Between the eyes.
• The ear.

Tenderness in the Face

You may feel pain and tenderness in the face due to the pressure and the fluids accumulated in the sinuses, especially in the area of the bridge of the nose or under the eyes, and it may also occur on the forehead and cheeks.

Runny Nose

When you have a sinus infection, you may need to blow your nose frequently because of the excess discharge, which can be cloudy, green, or yellow in color. This discharge comes from the infected sinuses and is drained through the nasal passages.

It may also happen that this discharge bypasses the nose area and accumulates at the back of the throat, and this is what is called postnasal drip.

Nasal Congestion

The inflamed sinuses may also restrict the extent of your ability to breathe through the nose, as the infection causes swelling in the sinuses and nasal passages and can lead to a feeling of being "blocked." Also, because of nasal congestion, you may not be able to smell or taste normally.

Sinus Headache

Headache is the most common symptom of sinusitis, and it often results from the constant pressure and swelling in the sinuses. Most often a sinus headache is at its worst in the morning because fluids collect throughout the night.

The headache can become worse when the atmospheric pressure around you changes suddenly, or when you change the position of your head.

Throat Irritation and Cough

Because the sinus discharge leaks into the back of the throat (postnasal drip), it may cause irritation, especially over a long period of time. This can lead to tickling, itching, or even a sore throat, and may cause coughing at night when sleeping, and in the morning after waking up. It may also cause your voice to sound hoarse.

Fever

Although fever is not common, it may also occur with sinusitis, as happens with many types of infections. The fever resulting from this type of infection is usually in the low-grade range (38 to 39.4 degrees Celsius).

Bad Breath

The mucus secreted by the infected sinuses can emit a foul odor and leak from the throat to the mouth, and drinking plenty of water along with frequently rinsing the mouth and nose and cleaning the tongue may help reduce these symptoms.

Complications of Sinusitis

Complications of acute sinusitis are uncommon, and serious complications are rare.

Complications may include the following:

• Chronic sinusitis: Acute sinusitis may serve as a flare-up of a long-term problem known as chronic sinusitis, which lasts for more than 12 weeks.
• Meningitis: This infection may cause inflammation of the membranes and fluids surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
• Other infections: Although it is a rare condition, the infection may spread to the bones and is known as osteomyelitis, and it may affect the skin and is known as cellulitis.
• Vision problems: If the infection spreads to the eye socket, it may cause impaired vision or even blindness that can be permanent.

Treatment of Sinus Infections

Most cases of acute sinusitis improve on their own, and usually home self-care methods are all you need to relieve the symptoms.

Your doctor may recommend treatments to help relieve the symptoms of sinusitis, including:

• Saline nasal spray: which is sprayed into the nose several times a day to rinse the nasal passages.
• Nasal corticosteroid sprays: these sprays help prevent and treat inflammation.
• Decongestants: these medications are available without a prescription (OTC) and are used for only a few days so that they do not cause the congestion to return (rebound congestion).
• Allergy medications: if the sinusitis is caused by allergies, allergy medications may help reduce the symptoms.
• Over-the-counter painkillers: such as aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen.
• Antibiotics: antibiotics are usually not necessary to treat acute sinusitis, because it is usually caused by a virus and not bacteria.
• Immunotherapy: allergy shots (immunotherapy) that help reduce the body's reaction to specific allergens may help treat the symptoms if allergies are the cause of the sinus infections.

Learn about: Pneumonia and Its Symptoms

Although sinusitis often does not require immediate medical intervention, in recurrent cases or chronic inflammation, it is advised to visit the doctor to relieve sinusitis symptoms and improve the condition.